In SQL terms, what does an Explore represent in Looker?

An Explore in Looker is a central concept that serves as a foundational structure for users to build queries and analyze data. In SQL terms, it is most accurately represented by the FROM clause of a query. When you define an Explore in Looker, it specifies the underlying tables and the relationships between them. This is similar to the FROM clause in SQL, which determines the source tables from which the data will be pulled.

Defining an Explore is essentially about establishing the context for the data you want to work with, just as the FROM clause outlines the tables involved in a query. This is crucial for users to understand how to navigate and utilize the data effectively when constructing their analyses, as the Explore serves as the starting point for querying.

In contrast, the other options represent different components of a SQL query. The WHERE clause filters the results based on given conditions, the SELECT clause specifies which columns to retrieve, and the GROUP BY clause organizes the results into groups based on specific criteria. None of these roles align with the purpose of an Explore, which fundamentally is about defining the dataset rather than filtering, selecting, or grouping data.